Money

When a company buys jet fuel for a business flight, the fuel will be consumed immediately. So the cost is tax deductible as an ordinary expense in the current period. Most expenses of owning and operating a business jet are like that-they can be deducted currently and thus offset taxes on current business income.

It dawned on me this morning that though I'm a used-aircraft broker, I have $90 million worth of offers on my desk for new jets-two aircraft that haven't even been built yet. So why are these transactions my business? Because when holders of new-aircraft positions look to resell them, they turn to used-aircraft brokers, not the jets' manufacturers, to orchestrate the deals.

What you'll pay for air charter varies not only by aircraft type and model but by region. Here are the average per-hour rates for popular aircraft nationally and in the North Central U.S., now and a year ago. Look for price data for other parts of the country in future issues.

Taking delivery of a business jet is exciting, but maintaining that excitement can be tough, given the daunting work that awaits. Putting aside practical considerations-such as hiring a management company, finding a crew and hangar space and preparing the aircraft for operations-a host of legal, tax, risk-management and financial decisions require attention.

After carefully analyzing your travel patterns, budget and a host of other factors, you've concluded that you need an aircraft. Now comes a decision that can be at least as tough: Should you buy new or used?

What you'll pay for air charter varies not only by aircraft type and model but also by region. Here are the average per-hour rates for popular aircraft nationally and in the South Central U.S., now and a year ago. Look for price data for other parts of the country in future issues.

The cost of buying an aircraft is rivaled only by the expense of maintaining it. If someone gave me a Gulfstream G550 for Christmas, I'd have to sell it immediately because just the expense of hangaring and insuring the aircraft, let alone flying it, would far exceed what I can afford. No wonder many people want to figure out a way to share the cost of business jets.

Increasing inventory amid a backdrop of economic uncertainty is never welcome in the used aircraft sales arena, but this time around at least we're just witnessing the continuation of a predictable cycle. In fact, many buyers believe the market is making its long-awaited return to normal levels.

What you'll pay for air charter varies not only by aircraft type and model but by region. Here are the average per-hour rates for popular aircraft nationally and in the Southeast U.S., now and a year ago. Look for price data for other parts of the country in future issues.

Quote/Unquote

“What we need to do is always lean into the future. When the world changes around you and when it changes against you—what used to be a tail wind is now a head wind—you have to lean into that and figure out what to do because complaining isn’t a strategy.
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